Wi-Fi & connectivity

[Thunder7]

Had a dual band Trendnet router. All of my Roku devices could see both the 2.4 and 5.0 ghz networks.
Upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 Netgear router. Dual band. Now, NONE of my Roku devices can see the 5.0ghz network. It is being broadcast. Xbox is connected to it just fine. Netgear told me to research with Roku. Apparently none of my Rokus have the dual band antenna. They never should have been able to see the 5.0.

so here is my question...how was this working with trend net? Was it not a true 5.0ghz network and they lied to me this whole time? Or does wifi6 come into play?

[AvsGunnar · Accepted solution]

For the most part, currently, if you have the Express and Premiere models(post 2016 models), these will only operate on the 2.4gz.  If you have the sticks or Ultra, then those could use either the 2.4gz or 5gz.

Depending on the models you have, it could be the dual band Roku devices could "see" both networks, but were either steered or configured to use your 2.4gz network, even though 5gz was available, or were indeed using the 5gz when you thought they were using 2.4gz.

It could also be that your router was a true dual band and that it only broadcast one SSID (network name) for both the 2.4 and 5 bands and just connected as appropriate.  Your current router may now be broadcasting two seperate SSIDs (one for the 2.4 and another for the 5) which is clearly showing you which band each device is showing.

If you have any of the models listed above that are capable of seeing the 5gz network and they are currently not seeing them, then it could be that the 5gz is not configured properly regarding Channel Selection within your Netgear Router.  This 5gz channel must be set to use a channel between 36-48 on the low band and channels 149-165 for the 5gz capable Roku device to "see" the network.

Entirely possible for your Xbox to be operating on a 5gz channel that Roku cannot use.  In more technical terms, Roku doesn't currently operate on DFS channels (Dynamic Frequency Selection). It could be that the Xbox does. DFS channels are 52-140 (Roku cannot "see" or use these.)

I think this is most likely your issue since you said your Roku devices could see them before.  

[atc98092]

I concur. The new router has auto-assigned a DFS channel for 5 GHz. As mentioned, Roku devices cannot see DFS channels. You need to manually assign the 5 GHz radio on your router to a non-DFS channel.

[Thunder7]

Current channel is 48. I have the Roku3 and Roku Premier, neither of which ever should have been able to see the 5.0ghz network previously. My best guess is that the Trendnet router was a farce and was never sending a true 5.0 network.

[renojim]

Roku 3s support 5GHz and I believe some Premieres did as well - it depends on the model number.  The name is practically useless since Roku will reuse the same name over and over again.

[AvsGunnar]

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@renojim wrote:

Roku 3s support 5GHz and I believe some Premieres did as well - it depends on the model number.  The name is practically useless since Roku will reuse the same name over and over again.

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Since you stated you have the Roku 3, I am assuming you probably have one of the older Premiers as well.  

As @renojim said, the Roku 3 was both 2.4 and 5 (dual-band device) and some of the Premieres (4620 and 4630+ models) were also dual band. 

In Settings...System...About  it should tell you your Premier's model #.

As a sidenote... I had to play around with different channels with my Netgear Nighthawk to get all my devices (namely computers and such, more so than the Roku's to see my 5gz.)  Try changing that 48 to the higher band numbers of 149 and your Roku 3 will most likely see it.  Different channels have different strengths, interferences, etc.)